Friends set out to finish Winsted teen's work (video)

TORRINGTON -- Dale Cox's crowning achievement was supposed to be restoring a vintage Ford Mustang. His friends have taken up that mantle in his absence.

The Wolcott Tech junior and Winsted native died Dec. 22 after a one-car accident on Route 8, but several of his friends have launched a fundraiser to help restore Cox's 1967 Mustang. According to Lindsey Prevuznak, the car will become a show car and tribute to Dale.

"It was Dale's dream to finish his '67 Ford Mustang," reads a flyer for the pasta dinner. "We may have lost Dale, but we would like to keep his spirit alive by finishing his car the way he would have wanted it."

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Prevuznak was one of Dale's long-time friends, having known him since they were both children. His esteem in both Winsted's community and Wolcott Tech's was evident, according to Prevuznak, from the attendance at his wake.

"I could go on and on about how wonderful he was," said Prevuznak. "He was a really, really nice kid."

According to Prevuznak, Dale fished the Mustang out of the woods, setting his heart on restoring the vehicle. While Prevuznak did not know if it was going to be a show car or used on a daily basis, its destiny is set.

"As of now, it's going to be a show car," said Prevuznak. "His picture's going to be on the hood, and his parents are going to get everybody from his shop to sign it."

Prevuznak was outside of the Wolcott Tech/Gilbert boys basketball game Monday night, selling tickets to a pasta dinner, scheduled for Feb. 19 at Brodie Park in New Hartford. Food and beverages will be provided by donors such as ABC Pizza in Winsted, along with a litany of raffle prizes. Prevuznak said that a Winsted dentist had donated a tooth whitening session, as well as oral care, as one of the raffle prizes.

"There's just been an outpouring of support in the community to make sure this runs smoothly," said Prevuznak.

So far, Prevuznak has been selling tickets wherever possible, such as during lunch at the Gilbert School and at Stop and Shop. Tickets will also be available at the door, according to Prevuzak, who also praised the staff at Brodie Park for their work. Prevuzak also accepted monetary donations at the basketball game, as well as at other times, to go towards the project.

"There were a lot of people at Stop and Shop that read the signs and left money," said Prevuzak.

Tickets for the pasta dinner are $20 for adults and $10 for children 15 and under. For more information, including ticket sales, contact Lindsey Prevuznak at (860) 806-2501 or lindseyp19@yahoo.com.